Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-03
LANGST0N'S TRIAL.
A JURY OBTAINED AND THE TRIAL
COMMENCED.
Evidence for the Prosecution-An Ixcur-
sion Steamer sunk; Panic Among
the Excursionists.
rcorrespondencc Of tho Richmond rIspstch.l

llOrftsItUucutt VI thc hitbhoh' bi'Psth.I
PETERSBURG, August 2, 1897.
A Jury composed of six white and six
colored men was empanelled this morn
ing in the Hastings Court to try Frank
NJ. Langston for the murder Of John
Ii. Ruiiin.
The court proceeded promptly TO the
examination of witnesses, and the day
was spent in hearing the testimony of
the prosecution. Several witnesses were
put upon the stand who were at or near
the scene of the shooting on the 4th of
April. and who corroborated each
other in their statements of the facts.
These in brief were that after some
what personal interview between the
parties in Langston's store, on Halifax
street. Rufiin left and went up the
street; that he had not proceeded
far before he was overtaken by Lang
ston, who charged him with taking his
pipe that Ruffin, when so charged,
turned and denied and said, "Lang-
ston, God knows / have not seen your
pipe; that Langston replied, You
are id liar,' and Immediately
shot Ruliin, the bail penetrating the
abdomen that Langston coolly turred
about and walked down the street, with
his pistol in his hand and that Rufiin
was taken home and put under medical
treatment.
Much stress has been laid upon the
matter of the operation performed
upon Rufiin the day before his death
by bis attending physician-viz., that
of opening the abdomen and sewing
up The periorations in the intestires
made by fac bail and it has been re-
ported that the prisoner would claim
that death was rather superinduced by
this operation than by the wound of
The bullet. The operation was perform
cd only after consultation with and
upon the advice of other physicians as
offering the only possible hope for Ruff
fin, and several physicians were pres
ent to witness it.
Or. II. q. Leigh, the coroner, ply
sician of high standing and long prac-
tice, was on the witness-stand for some
hours and was subjected to most
searching examination. He said he en-
dorsed the operation, which he fully
and minutely described, with the cha
ractor Of the wounds two through the
small and one through the large inteS-
tine. He declared that the highest
medical Authorities were against
the recovery of man wounded
in the manner that Rulin was,
and gave interesting Statements show
ing the large percentage of deaths
among soldiers wounded in the bowels
during the several wars. He expressed
the opinion that death in this case was
caused by the bullet-wound. DIR. Leigh
was again on the stand this afternoon,
and other physicians will also be ex-
AHMED. The defence have well in
TONED themselves AS to the medical
side OF the case.
Q. s. 3. Ware, n brotherin-law OF.
VI. Langston, arrived here from Wash
iugton this morning, and will remain
during the trial.
TIE STEAMER GEORGE LAW SUNK.
The steamer George Law, which runs
between Petersburg and the landings
on the lower James river, left here this
morning for Claremont with about
twenty five tons of freight and colored
excursion party of about 800 persons
men, women, and children. When
shout the mouth of Puddleduck cut, in
the Appomattox, it was discovered that
the steamer was rapidly filing with
water. By accident, or neglect, the
"dcad. eyes" or portfolios, had been
left open, and the water poured into
the hold through them. The captain,
in order to prevent accident to the
passengers and to avoid the sinking
of the steamer, ran her aground
near the shore. Great excitement
was caused among the excursionists
though there WAS no real danger, and
il was difficult ma.tarto prevent many
of them from jumping overheard into
deep water, whore they would undOubt-
eddy have been drowned. As soon as
the steamer was grounded number
did jump, striking in shallow water.
II excursioniSts were brought back
home in bargos. The steamer is still
aground outside of the channel with
about three feet of water on her main
deck. The Baker Salvage Company,
of Norfolk, has been engaged to raise
the vessel. kOBIN ADAIR.